Sparkling clean Yamuna by 2010 Commonwealth Games: LG

New Delhi, July 20 (UNI) If all goes well, and as per plans of the Delhi government, a sparkling and refreshing Yamuna would greet visitors to the Commonwealth Games, scheduled here in 2010.

Baring details of the blueprint that would see the present starkly polluted Yamuna into one that matches the likes of Thames in London, Seine in Paris and Danube in Vienna, Delhi Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna said the Rs 1,800 crore project would involve multiple agencies and enhance the water quality of Yamuna dramatically.

''Funds would not be a constraint for this important work.'' The polluted water would be cleaned before it reaches the Yamuna and all this was being done in a phased and time-bound manner to bring in palpable results within a time-frame, he said adding that the Centre for Science and Environment has also given its consent to the plan.

Chipping in Chief Secretary S Narayanaswamy said the focus would be mainly on the 22-km stretch between Wazirabad Barrage and Okhla Barrage which was the chief polluter. This would be streamlined with technology inputs and efficient management of resources.

Besides, the Najafgarh drain and supplementary drains would have an interceptor sewer system installed to clean the sevage. Work on this would start soon to get it done within a specified time, he said.

''We are fast-tracking the interceptor sewer system installation as this would drastically reduce pollutant percentage that flows into the Yamuna.'' Along with this, a high wall would be erected along the 50-70 km stretch all along the supplementary drains so as to prevent dumping of garbage into them that chokes them and adds to the pollution, he added.

Mr Narayanaswamy also said work to cleanse and refine the Yamuna would not stop even after 2010 Commonwealth Games as the government was serious about making it a world class hub of activity a la other world cities like Moscow, London and Paris.

Refuting reports on concerns expressed by environmentalists on the Commonwealth Games' effect on Yamuna, the LG said all apprehensions expressed in this regard were unfounded as the government had with it all necessary reports regarding environment and pollution.

''Not just that, the clearance for the Commonwealth Games Village on the Yamuna banks has the clearance of the Supreme Court.'' UNI